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Legal Environment of Business

The Negotiable Instruments Act 1881

Negotiable Instruments

The word negotiable means 'transferable by delivery',

and the word instrument means 'a written document by
which a right is created in favor of some person'.
Thus, the term 'negotiable instrument' literally means a
written document transferable by delivery.
In other words, documents of a certain type, used in
Commercial transactions and momentary dealings, are
called Negotiable Instruments.
According to Section 13 of the Negotiable Instruments Act
1881, a negotiable instrument means a promissory note,
bill of exchange or cheque payable either to order or
bearer. A negotiable instrument may be made payable to
two or more payees jointly, or it may be made payable in
the alternative to one of two, or one of some of several
payees. [(Section 13 (2)]
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Essential Characteristics of
a Negotiable Instrument

(1) Writing and Signature : Negotiable instruments must be

written and signed by the parties according to the rules
relating to Negotiable Instruments.
(2) Money : Negotiable instruments are payable by legal
tender money of Bangladesh.
(3) Negotiability : Negotiable instruments can be
transferred from one person to another
(4) Title : The transferee of a negotiable instrument when he
fulfills certain condition is called the holder in due course.
The holder in due course gets a good title to instrument
even in cases where the title of the transferor is
defective.
(5) Notice : It is not necessary to give notice of transfer of a
negotiable instrument to the party liable to pay.
(Continued)
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Essential Characteristics of
a Negotiable Instrument
(Continued)

(6) Presumptions : Certain presumptions apply to all N.I.

Example : It is presumed that there is consideration. It is not
necessay to write in a promissory note the words or similar
expressions 'for value received' because the payment of
consideration is presumed.
(7) Special Procedure : A special procedure is provided for
suits on Negotiable instruments. A decree can be obtained
much more quickly than it can be in ordinary suits.
(8) Popularity : Negotiable instruments are popular in
commercial transactions because of their easy negotiability
and quick remedies.
(9) Evidence : A document that fails to qualify as a Negotiable
instrument may nevertheless be used as a evidence of the
fact indebtedness.
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Definitions
A promissory note (pro-note or hand note) is an
instrument in writing (not being a bank note or a currency
note) containing an unconditional undertaking signed by
the maker, to pay a certain sum of money' only to, or to
order of a certain person, or to the bearer of the
instrument.
A bill of exchange is an instrument in writing containing an
unconditional order, signed by the maker, directing a
certain person to pay a certain some of money only to, or
to the order of a certain person or to the bearer of the
instrument.
A Cheque is a bill of exchange drawn upon a specified
banker and payable on demand.

Essential Elements of
a Promissory Note
1. The instrument must be (i) in writing, (ii) signed by the
maker and (iii) stamped.
2. The maker of the instrument must be certain and definite.
3. A signature in pencil or by a rubber stamp of facsimile is
good.
4. The instrument must contain a promise to pay.
5. The promise to pay must be unconditional.
6. The sum of money to be paid must be certain.
7. The payment must be in the legal tender money of
Bangladesh.
9. The money must be payable to a definite person or
according to his order.
10. A promissory note may be payable on demand or after a
certain definite period of time.
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Essential Elements of
a Bill of Exchange
1. The instrument must be (i) in writing, (ii) signed by the
drawer and (iii) stamped.
2. The instrument must contain an order to pay, which is
express and unconditional.
3. The drawer, drawee and the payee must be certain and
definite individuals.
4. The amount of money to be paid must be certain.
5. The payment must be in the legal tender money of
Bangladesh.
6. The money must be payable to a definite person or
according to his order.
7. The bill may be made payable on demand or after a
definite period of time.
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Essential Features of a Cheque

1. A Cheque must fulfill all the requirements of a bill of exchange.
2. A Cheque may be payable to bearer or to order but in either
case it must be payable on demand.
3. The banker named must pay it when it is presented for
payment to him at his office during the usual office hours,
provided the Cheque is validly drawn and the drawer has
sufficient funds to his credit.
4. Bill and notes may be written entirely by hand. There is no legal
bar to cheques being hand written.
5. The signature must tally with the specimen signature of the
drawer kept in the bank.
6. A Cheque must be dated. A Cheque drawn with a future date is
valid. Such cheques are called post-dated cheques.
7. A Cheque becomes due for payment on the date specified on it.
But if there is too much delay, the bank is entitled to consider
the circumstance suspicious and refuse to honor the Cheque.
8. In some certain circumstances the bank is not bound to pay the
cheques.
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Distinction between
Bill of Exchange and Cheque

1. A bill of exchange can be drawn on any person, including

a bank. A Cheque can be drawn only upon a bank. Thus
every Cheque is a bill of exchange but every bill of
exchange is not a Cheque.
2. Except under certain specified circumstances, a bill of
exchange requires acceptance. A Cheque does not
require any acceptance.
3. A Cheque is always payable on demand. The acceptor of
a bill of exchange is allowed grace period of three days,
after the maturity of the bill, to make the payment.
4. The drawer of bill is discharged from liability if the bill is
not presented to the acceptor for payment at the due
time. But the drawer of a cheque is discharged from his
liability only if he suffers damage owing to delay
presenting the Cheque for payment.
(Continued)
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Distinction between
Bill of Exchange and Cheque
(Continued)
5. If a bank fails to pay a Cheque, it is not necessary to
give notice of dishonour to the drawer to make him liable
to compensate the payee. In the case of bills of
exchange, it is necessary to give notice of dishonour,
except in certain special cases.
6. A Cheque may be crossed; there is no provision for
crossing a bill.
7. The payment of a Cheque may be countermanded by
the drawer. The payment of a bill cannot be
countermanded.
8. A Cheque does not require any stamp. A bill of exchange
(except in certain cases) must be stamped.
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